Are my grades an issue?

Hello,

I am an incoming year 3 law student (out of a 4 year degree) at a top Russell Group uni in London. I received my module grades a couple of weeks ago and my grades overall were fairly okay, as I averaged an 66.5 (compared with a 63.5 in first year). However, I came out with a 58.5 in tort which I did not expect at all, as I thought I did fairly decently in the exam. I tried to appeal the grade, but was ultimately left with feedback on how I should improve..

Would a 2:2 in a core module like tort be an issue for law firms when applying for vac schemes? I received firsts in two modules - EU and Equity&Trusts - but would this really outweigh the 2:2? For reference, I received all 2:1s in first year.

Thanks for any responses.

Law Firm Application Deadlines 2022-2023

Hi everyone!

As law firms continue to announce their deadlines for the upcoming cycle, the list below will be updated :)

Always check the time that the application is due on the website - if the firm's website does not mention a specific time (especially if the firm uses apply4law) then it would usually be safe to assume a deadline of 11:59pm, but I have seen firms specify noon, 1pm, 4pm, 5pm and (weirdly) 11:55pm - it is always better to be safe then sorry!

I have separated out the application deadlines for first-year, winter, spring and summer vacation schemes as well as for direct training contract applications. This may be useful for those of you who wish to spread out your applications between winter, spring, summer and direct TC in order to minimise your chance of being accepted onto multiple overlapping vacation schemes which you cannot complete.

Please refer also to this list of firms which either recruit primarily from vacation scheme or direct TC, as well as this list of which firms recruit on a rolling basis. You will always be able to find all of these posts at the link in my signature, along with my compilation of common application pitfalls to avoid when you start writing your applications!

Together I hope that these lists help you draw up a schedule of which firms you will apply to, when you will apply to them and whether you will apply to their training contract or vacation scheme in the first instance. The application process can be somewhat of a numbers game and it is definitely realistic to submit large numbers of high-quality applications if you plan ahead, starting now!

The deadlines listed below do not offer a comprehensive summary and there are many firms which will be opening their application cycles over the coming weeks. If anyone else wants to suggest additions, please comment with more firms, the relevant dates, and a link to the firm's website page where the dates are listed.

Thank you :)

Deadlines​


First-Year Insight Scheme Applications

December 2022

16 December 2022: Slaughter and May

January 2023
1 January 2023: Latham & Watkins
27 January 2023: Macfarlanes
31 January 2023: Simmons & Simmons

February 2023
1 February 2023: Taylor Wessing
3 February 2023: DLA Piper
9 February 2023: Clifford Chance
16 February 2023: Freshfields

March 2023
19 March 2023: Weil, Gotshal & Manges
31 March 2023: White & Case


Winter Vacation Scheme Applications

September 2022

30 September 2022: Herbert Smith Freehills

October 2022
6 October 2022: Linklaters
9 October 2022: Travers Smith
13 October 2022: Covington & Burling
14 October 2022: Allen & Overy
14 October 2022: Slaughter and May
27 October 2022: Burges Salmon
28 October 2022: Dechert
30 October 2022: Jones Day
30 October 2022: Shearman & Sterling


Spring Vacation Scheme Applications

December 2022

1 December 2022: Baker McKenzie
2 December 2022: Herbert Smith Freehills
12 December 2022: Reed Smith
15 December 2022: Linklaters
15 December 2022: Skadden
16 December 2022: Bird & Bird
20 December 2022: Willkie Farr & Gallagher
31 December 2022: Dechert

January 2023
1 January 2023: Kirkland & Ellis
1 January 2023: Latham & Watkins
2 January 2023: Clyde & Co
2 January 2023: Debevoise & Plimpton
3 January 2023: Dentons
3 January 2023: Pennington Manches Cooper
3 January 2023: Watson Farley & Williams
4 January 2023: Goodwin Procter
5 January 2023: Addleshaw Goddard
6 January 2023: Macfarlanes
6 January 2023: Mishcon de Reya
8 January 2023: Jones Day
8 January 2023: Milbank
10 January 2023: TLT
10 January 2023: Weil, Gotshal & Manges
12 January 2023: Burges Salmon
15 January 2023: HFW
15 January 2023: Shearman & Sterling
15 January 2023: White & Case
27 January 2023: Sidley Austin
31 January 2023: Charles Russell Speechlys
31 January 2023: Cleary Gottlieb
31 January 2023: Farrer & Co
31 January 2023: Mayer Brown
31 January 2023: Ropes & Gray
31 January 2023: Stephenson Harwood
31 January 2023: Withers


Summer Vacation Scheme Applications

December 2022

1 December 2022: Taylor Wessing
2 December 2022: Herbert Smith Freehills
9 December 2022: Slaughter and May
12 December 2022: Reed Smith
13 December 2022: Eversheds Sutherland
15 December 2022: Linklaters
15 December 2022: Skadden
16 December 2022: Allen & Overy
20 December 2022: Willkie Farr & Gallagher
24 December 2022: CMS
30 December 2022: DLA Piper
31 December 2022: Bird & Bird
31 December 2022: Katten

January 2023
1 January 2023: Baker McKenzie
1 January 2023: Kirkland & Ellis
1 January 2023: Latham & Watkins
2 January 2023: Clyde & Co
2 January 2023: Debevoise & Plimpton
3 January 2023: Dentons
3 January 2023: Irwin Mitchell
3 January 2023: Pennington Manches Cooper
3 January 2023: Watson Farley & Williams
4 January 2023: Goodwin Procter
4 January 2023: Mills & Reeve
5 January 2023: Addleshaw Goddard
6 January 2023: Ashurst
6 January 2023: Hogan Lovells
6 January 2023: Macfarlanes
6 January 2023: Mishcon de Reya
6 January 2023: Squire Patton Boggs
7 January 2023: Davis Polk (only law students can apply)
8 January 2023: Akin Gump
8 January 2023: Jones Day
8 January 2023: Milbank
10 January 2023: TLT
10 January 2023: Weil, Gotshal & Manges
12 January 2023: Burges Salmon
12 January 2023: Pinsent Masons
13 January 2023: Covington & Burling
13 January 2023: Forsters
13 January 2023: Sullivan & Cromwell
13 January 2023: Vinson & Elkins
13 January 2023: Winston & Strawn
15 January 2023: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
15 January 2023: DWF
15 January 2023: HFW
15 January 2023: Osborne Clarke
15 January 2023: Shearman & Sterling
15 January 2023: Simmons & Simmons
15 January 2023: Travers Smith
15 January 2023: Trowers & Hamlins
15 January 2023: White & Case
16 January 2023: Gibson Dunn
25 January 2023: Morgan Lewis
26 January 2023: Fieldfisher (Diversity Access Scheme)
27 January 2023: Sidley Austin
31 January 2023: Charles Russell Speechlys
31 January 2023: Cleary Gottlieb
31 January 2023: Dechert
31 January 2023: Farrer & Co
31 January 2023: K & L Gates
31 January 2023: Mayer Brown
31 January 2023: Orrick
31 January 2023: Ropes & Gray
31 January 2023: Shoosmiths (30 June for Belfast)
31 January 2023: Stephenson Harwood
31 January 2023: Wedlake Bell
31 January 2023: Withers

February 2023
5 February 2023: Taylor Vinters
12 February 2023: Norton Rose Fulbright
26 February 2023: Arnold & Porter
28 February 2023: Womble Bond Dickinson


Direct Training Contract Applications

November 2022

30 November 2022: Slaughter and May

December 2022
8 December 2022: Clifford Chance (second-year law students and final-year non-law students are prioritised)
15 December 2022: Linklaters
16 December 2022: Allen & Overy
31 December 2022: Bird & Bird
31 December 2022: Curtis (for 2024 TC)

January 2023
2 January 2023: Bristows
3 January 2023: Irwin Mitchell
5 January 2023: Freshfields (non-law and law intake)
6 January 2023: Fieldfisher
12 January 2023: Pinsent Masons
13 January 2023: Greenberg Traurig (for 2023 TC)
15 January 2023: Osborne Clarke
16 January 2023: Gibson Dunn
29 January 2023: Ince
31 January 2023: Brown Rudnick (for 2023 TC)
31 January 2023: Charles Russell Speechlys
31 January 2023: Hill Dickinson
31 January 2023: Hogan Lovells (2024 and 2025 intakes)
31 January 2023: Lewis Silkin
31 January 2023: Mayer Brown

March 2023
31 March 2023: Ashurst
31 March 2023: Shoosmiths (15 October 2022 for Belfast)

April 2023
1 April 2023: Baker McKenzie

May 2023
29 May 2023: Orrick
31 May 2023: Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
31 May 2023: Goodwin Procter
31 May 2023: TLT
31 May 2023: Wedlake Bell

June 2023
1 June 2023: Forsters
4 June 2023: Pennington Manches Cooper
15 June 2023: Dentons
25 June 2023: DWF
30 June 2023: Vinson & Elkins
30 June 2023: Withers

July 2023
2 July 2023: Kirkland & Ellis
3 July 2023: Watson Farley & Williams
7 July 2023: Covington & Burling
7 July 2023: Farrer & Co
7 July 2023: Morgan Lewis
9 July 2023: Norton Rose Fulbright
13 July 2023: Freshfields (law only intake)
14 July 2023: Sullivan & Cromwell
16 July 2023: Latham & Watkins
16 July 2023: White & Case
21 July 2023: Macfarlanes
31 July 2023: Addleshaw Goddard
31 July 2023: Arnold & Porter
31 July 2023: Cleary Gottlieb
31 July 2023: HFW
31 July 2023: Hogan Lovells (2025 intake only)
31 July 2023: K & L Gates
31 July 2023: Stephenson Harwood
31 July 2023: Trowers & Hamlins
31 July 2023: Weil, Gotshal & Manges

TBA: Eversheds Sutherland
TBA: Howard Kennedy (for 2024 TC)
TBA: Paul Hastings

Rolling/Non-Rolling 2022-2023

Hi everyone!

I have compiled a list (this is still a work in progress as many firms are yet to update their recruitment pages for the new cycle) of firms by whether they are recruiting on a rolling basis or not for the upcoming application cycle. You should look at this in conjunction with my list of law firm deadlines and my thread about where firms recruit from (VS or direct TC). In the below list, I have only included firms where I have a website link or e-mail confirming this and quite a few firms have changed from previous cycles. The below list will be updated over the coming weeks and if you have any knowledge about how firms review applications then please feel free to comment below with a link!

It is really important to note that when a firm recruits on a rolling basis, this can mean any one of a number of things (I have written a post about this here) and certainly does not mean that an application submitted on the deadline day will inevitably be rejected. Most firms receive over half of their applications in the days leading up to the deadline - even those which recruit on a rolling basis.

One firm writes on its website that 'You will hear from us within ten to fifteen working days as to the outcome of your application [i.e. this firm reviews applications on a rolling basis]. We will not fill up places before the deadline. It is our strong recommendation that you only submit your application when you feel it is ready rather than submitting it as early as possible.'
I have listed this firm as rolling but my designation could mislead some candidates.

Consequently, I would check the links I have included below to see exactly what each firm advises in relation to when you should submit your application. Good luck :)

Firms which review applications on a rolling basis

Addleshaw Goddard: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Akin Gump: rolling (https://www.akingump.com/en/careers/uk-students/how-to-apply.html)
Allen & Overy: rolling (https://krb-sjobs.brassring.com/TGn...siteid=5040&Areq=6647BR#jobDetails=62982_5040)
Baker McKenzie: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Bird & Bird: rolling (https://www.twobirds.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/early-careers/vacation-schemes)
Bristows: rolling, but all applications received by the deadline are considered equally (confirmed by e-mail)
Charles Russell Speechlys: rolling, but no decisions are made about who to invite to AC until after the deadline when all applications have been reviewed (confirmed by e-mail)
Cleary Gottlieb: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
CMS: rolling (https://www.cmsearlytalent.com/application-support/frequently-asked-questions/)
Dentons: rolling (https://challengers.dentons.com/uk-trainees/applications/applications-process/)
DLA Piper: rolling (https://www.dlapipergraduates.com/uk/apply/)
Fieldfisher: rolling (https://www.fieldfisher.com/en/careers/graduates#application)
Gibson Dunn: rolling (https://www.gibsondunn.com/careers/law-students/london-graduate-recruitment/)
HFW: rolling (https://www.training-contracts.com/Grad-Rec-Our-Recruitment-Process)
Hill Dickinson: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Ince: rolling (https://www.incegd.com/sites/defaul...plication-process-Ince-brochure_Sept-2020.pdf)
Irwin Mitchell: rolling (https://graduaterecruitment.irwinmitchell.com/training-contracts)
Jones Day: rolling (https://www.jonesday.com/en/careers/locations/united-kingdom?tab=howtoapply)
Mayer Brown: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Mishcon de Reya: rolling (https://www.mishcon.com/graduates/faqs)
Osborne Clarke: rolling (https://join.osborneclarke.com/faqs-and-contact)
Pennington Manches Cooper: rolling (https://www.penningtonslaw.com/careers/early-careers/training-contract)
Shoosmiths: rolling, but no decisions are made about who to invite to AC until after the deadline when all applications have been reviewed (confirmed by e-mail)
Sidley Austin: rolling (https://www.sidleycareers.com/en/europe/london-opportunities?tab=faqs)
Simmons & Simmons: rolling (https://www.simmons-simmons.com/en/graduates/faq)
Skadden: rolling (https://www.skadden.com/-/media/fil...london-graduate-page/carve-your-path-2022.pdf)
Slaughter and May: rolling (https://www.slaughterandmay.com/careers/trainee-solicitors/work-experience-opportunities/)
Stephenson Harwood: rolling (https://www.shlegal-futuretalent.com/faqs)
Taylor Vinters: rolling (https://www.taylorvinterstribe.com/graduates-and-students-taylor-vinters#TheForm)
Taylor Wessing: rolling (https://www.taylorwessing.com/en/careers/united-kingdom/students-and-graduates/graduates-faq)
Watson Farley & Williams: rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Willkie Farr & Gallagher: rolling, but places are not filled and subsequent stages do not commence until after the deadline (https://www.willkie.com/careers/london/graduate-recruitment)

Firms which review applications on a non-rolling basis

Arnold & Porter: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Ashurst: non-rolling (https://www.ashurst.com/en/careers/...ndon-training-contract/what-you-need-to-know/)
Burges Salmon: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Clifford Chance: non-rolling (https://careers.cliffordchance.com/london/what-we-offer/training-contract.html)
Clyde & Co: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Covington & Burling: non-rolling (https://www.cov.com/en/careers/lawyers/london-graduate-recruitment-programme/application-information)
Davis Polk: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Debevoise & Plimpton: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Eversheds Sutherland: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Farrer & Co: non-rolling (https://www.farrer.co.uk/join-us/train-with-us/)
Forsters: non-rolling (https://www.forsters.co.uk/graduate-recruitment/frequently-asked-questions)
Freshfields: non-rolling (https://ukgraduates.freshfields.com/faqs)
Fried Frank: non-rolling (https://www.friedfrank.com/uploads/documents/cf2376b2bf385d619188c16bbaaa5350.pdf)
Goodwin Procter: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Gowling: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Herbert Smith Freehills: non-rolling, and the test can be completed after the deadline (https://careers.herbertsmithfreehills.com/uk/grads/faqs)
Hogan Lovells: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Howard Kennedy: non-rolling (https://www.howardkennedy.com/en/careers/trainees/trainee-faqs)
Katten: non-rolling (https://katten.com/london-training-contract-and-internship-programme)
Kennedys: non-rolling (https://kennedyslaw.com/thought-leadership/article/faqs-training-contracts/)
Latham & Watkins: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Lewis Silkin: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Linklaters: non-rolling (https://careers.linklaters.com/en/early-careers/your-application)
Macfarlanes: non-rolling (https://www.macfarlanes.com/join-us/trainee-solicitors/faqs/)
Milbank: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Mills & Reeve: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Morgan Lewis: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Norton Rose Fulbright: non-rolling (https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-gb/careers/graduates/apply/faq)
Orrick: non-rolling (https://www.orrick.com/en/Careers/Global-locations/Careers-in-the-UK/London-Office-Read-more)
Paul Hastings: non-rolling (https://www.paulhastings.com/en-GB/careers/graduates)
Pinsent Masons: non-rolling (https://www.pinsentmasons.com/careers/graduate/vacation-placements/england)
Reed Smith: non-rolling (https://www.reedsmith.com/en/careers/general/uk-faqs)
Ropes & Gray: non-rolling (https://www.ropesgrayrecruiting.com/en/UK/Students-Graduates/FAQ)
Shearman & Sterling: non-rolling (https://ukgraduates.shearman.com/application-information/faqs/)
Squire Patton Boggs: non-rolling (https://fsr.cvmailuk.com/spb/main.cfm?page=jobSpecific&jobId=63950&rcd=2624302&queryString=officelocation=London&groupType_59=&groupType_7=&groupType_4=&groupType_21=&x-token=tf57wy4fhouhnikfbnpe4iaqglw6ve7iqvekpu8w&srxksl=1)
Sullivan & Cromwell: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
TLT: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Trowers & Hamlins: non-rolling (https://www.trowers.com/careers/students-and-graduates/training-contracts)
Vinson & Elkins: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Wedlake Bell: non-rolling (https://wedlakebell.com/careers/summer-vacation-scheme/)
Winston & Strawn: non-rolling (confirmed by e-mail)
Womble Bond Dickinson: non-rolling (https://www.trainingcontract.com/apply/)

Firms which have a mixture of rolling and non-rolling recruitment processes

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner: rolling, except non-rolling for Manchester and Hong Kong (https://trainee.bclplaw.com/apply-now)
DWF: non-rolling for England and Scotland, rolling for Belfast and Dublin (https://dwfgroup.com/en/careers/graduate-recruitment/trainee-solicitor-programme/faqs)
Weil, Gotshal & Manges: rolling for VS (https://ukrecruiting.weil.com/vacation-scheme), non-rolling for TC (https://ukrecruiting.weil.com/training-contract)
White & Case: rolling for VS, non-rolling for TC (https://www.whitecase.com/careers/locations/uk/students/how-apply)

Where firms recruit from (Vacation Scheme vs Direct TC applications) 2022-2023

Hi everyone!

I hope that this can be useful in planning out where you will apply for vacation schemes and where you will apply directly for training contracts. You can decide when to apply to each firm by looking at my compilation of law firm deadlines as well as my thread about which firms recruit on a rolling or non-rolling basis.

Refer to the below list in conjunction with an excellent thread by @Adrian_S about which firms allow you to apply twice in the same recruitment cycle - once for the vacation scheme and then, if unsuccessful, again for a direct training contract. With these firms you have nothing to lose by first applying to the vacation scheme, even if they do take large numbers via the direct TC route!

I have separated firms into four categories which are largely accurate based on knowledge accumulated across TCLA, Chambers Student and other legal articles, but cannot be said to be hard and fast for all of the firms on here. Please do comment if you have any additional information about how many direct TC offers firms make - including both firms already on the list and those that are not :)

Thank you!

50%-100% from direct TC applications

Allen & Overy
Bristows
Brown Rudnick
Clifford Chance
Farrer & Co
Fieldfisher
Freshfields
Fried Frank
Greenberg Traurig
Hill Dickinson
Howard Kennedy
Ince
K & L Gates
Kennedys
Lewis Silkin
Macfarlanes
Norton Rose Fulbright
Paul Hastings
Shoosmiths
Slaughter and May
Stephenson Harwood
TLT

Mostly from Vacation Scheme but with a consistently healthy direct TC intake

It can be misleading to say that a firm recruits predominantly from its vacation scheme when it has a strong direct TC intake every year. In fact, an applicant's chances of obtaining a training contract through that route can be very similar given the lower application numbers or the applicant's individual strengths/preferences. These are firms where direct TC routes are certainly a viable route for all candidates (percentages aside). The firms may recruit predominantly from their vacation schemes (or their stats may change from year to year) but they have at a minimum made more than one direct TC offer every year in recent years – it is definitely worth submitting a direct TC app to these firms and the application will be almost certainly be read and considered seriously for a TC.

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
Baker McKenzie
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Charles Russell Speechlys
Curtis
Dentons
DWF
Forsters
Goodwin Procter
HFW
Hogan Lovells
Irwin Mitchell
Latham & Watkins
Linklaters
Mayer Brown
Morgan Lewis
Orrick
Pennington Manches Cooper
Pinsent Masons
Trowers & Hamlins
Watson Farley & Williams
Wedlake Bell
White & Case
Withers

From Vacation Scheme in the first instance

These are firms which recruit primarily from their vacation schemes. Direct TC routes technically exist at all of these firms but they are often only used by the firms when they do not find whom they are looking for on their vacation schemes, or when individuals have special circumstances preventing them from completing a vacation scheme. These firms sometimes explicitly advise candidates without special circumstances to apply for their vacation scheme in the first instance.

Akin Gump
Arnold & Porter
Bird & Bird
Burges Salmon
Cleary Gottlieb
Covington & Burling
Eversheds Sutherland
Gibson Dunn
Kirkland & Ellis (they have historically advertised a direct TC route, but during the previous two years they have cancelled their vacation schemes and awarded direct training contracts solely from their vacation scheme interviews)
Mills & Reeve
Osborne Clarke
Sullivan & Cromwell
Travers Smith
Vinson & Elkins
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Womble Bond Dickinson (there is only one option which is to apply for their placement scheme - after the AC they offer candidates who cannot complete the placement scheme a chance to complete a direct TC interview day instead)

Only from Vacation Scheme

Clyde & Co
CMS
Davis Polk
Debevoise & Plimpton
Dechert
DLA Piper
Gowling WLG
Herbert Smith Freehills
Jones Day
Katten
Milbank
Mishcon de Reya
Reed Smith
Ropes & Gray
Shearman & Sterling
Sidley Austin
Simmons & Simmons
Skadden
Squire Patton Boggs
Taylor Vinters
Taylor Wessing
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Winston & Strawn

How much does applying near the deadline affect my chances for rolling applications?

Hi all!

One of my top choice firms has vacation scheme applications open from early Sep to mid Dec. Their applications are rolling, so I was going to apply in Sep or early Oct. However, their firm open day is in early Nov. Is it better to wait until after the open day to apply (as I can talk about it in my application to show that I know and care about the firm) or is is better to apply earlier because of the rolling applications?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

Rolling Deadlines Pressure

I'm really eager to apply to some vacation schemes and a few firms I wanted to apply to have opened. However, I have some valuable legal work experience in 2 weeks, and begin my VC role in a society in late September when term starts. Because of the work experience sections, and questions involving "positions of responsibility" I want to wait until late September to apply so I can include these experiences. However, on the other hand, the rolling deadlines are stressing me out, as they may have few places or have outright closed by start of October. What should I do?

Herbert Smith Freehills Vac Scheme 2022

Hi, below I have pasted a response that I drafted to the HSF application question. I would appreciate any help or guidance on how to make this a stronger response. Thanks!

Why are you interested in pursuing a career at Herbert Smith Freehills and what skills, qualities and attributes would you bring to the role? (Up to 300 words)

I am interested in pursuing a career at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) because the firm is progressive, values personal leadership and offers trainees a high level of responsibility from the beginning.

Firstly, the firm’s understanding of innovation being an “absolute necessity” (Justin D’Agostino, CEO) aligns with my adaptive nature. I enjoy finding creative solutions to multidimensional problems, demonstrated by leasing the UK’s first manicure robot whilst working as a receptionist for a London beauty salon. This led to a 32% increase in client bookings, increasing revenue for the business, and showing my forward-thinking mindset.

Secondly, HSF places an emphasis on personal leadership. Recently, I was tasked with the role of team leader of 8 individuals for a fin-tech company. I led weekly meetings where I fostered a collaborative environment by establishing a bond over shared personal experiences which helped the team to work comfortably and efficiently. The culture at HSF that allows individuals to seek new opportunities for themselves will encourage me to take charge of my own career. I am keen to develop my leadership skills in a way that can expand the capacities and strengths of myself and others. HSF’s vision and approach to training align with my own personal goals.

Finally, the level of responsibility that HSF trainees appeal to me. Unlike other firms, trainees at HSF have the opportunity to research, complete due diligence, file statements and more for influential commercial deals. Having meaningful responsibility from the outset, combined with varied training seats and the help of a partner to help me progress through a training contract will all allow me to make continuous improvements that will be invaluable in becoming a well-rounded solicitor. I value my personal development deeply, and I believe that HSF cultivates an environment for me to grow personally and professionally.


What skills, qualities and attributes would you bring to the role? 300 words

On the vacation scheme, I will bring my collaborative working style, ability to work under pressure and initiative to seek new opportunities. Participating in both mooting and negotiation workshops, I found the latter to be more rewarding. I was able to listen to the ideas of others and confidently present my own in an open space as opposed to researching and preparing an argument individually. Working with over 6 negotiation partners during my time with the society, I upheld my position as a Midland Negotiation Tournament finalist for 4 consecutive university terms, demonstrating a strong ability to work well with others. I intend to demonstrate my flexible and open mindset on the vacation scheme, by listening to the ideas of others whilst offering my own diverse perspective.

Additionally, I would bring my strong ability of accuracy and meet deadlines. In my intern role for a women’s fashion brand, I submitted research reports including updates on UK privacy laws under tight deadlines. I prioritised tasks in order of urgency and accumulated resources and references I wanted to use in advance to help me work efficiently. In my receptionist role, I learnt the details of over 40 beauty treatments and effectively communicated this with clients, demonstrating the ability to retain large amounts of information. This will prove useful when summarising cases, completing drafts and producing research notes on the scheme.

Finally, I enjoy seeking new opportunities for myself. Whilst completing my marketing internship with a fin-tech start-up company, I adapted my marketing role to a technological one, using my contacts at the company to land a Talent Associate role with a venture capitalist, Zinc. In the scheme, I intend to seek opportunities to understand the role deeper through asking questions outside of tasks, networking with partners and associates, and showcasing my potential to thrive at HSF.